Where it's ALL about food!

Promise Activ SuperShots

Food for Thought

SuperShots are super convenient, but first you need to justify the super price for only 7 percent of the daily recommended potassium intake. Our biggest grumble about these is the price...

Promise active SuperShots with potassium lays claim to lowering blood pressure. The company says the new fruit-based product provides a "simple, on the go option to help consumers achieve a diet rich in potassium."

It is true that Americans take in a shockingly low amount of potassium - barely one-third of the currently recommended 4,700 milligrams a day. It is also true that low potassium levels are a major factor in the development of high blood pressure.

Go For the Fruit

Having said that, ounce-for-ounce these shots are far more costly than a latte at Starbuck's and certainly more expensive than fruit, juice or even milk, all of which are rich sources of potassium.

Another important note: The health claims on this product are based on general potassium studies, not research specific to SuperShots. However, to be fair, Active SuperShots did contain plant sterols, which are believed to reduce cholesterol.

One certainly can't say that the Shots are "bad for you". Each 3.3 ounce shot of Promise active SuperShots with potassium provides 350 milligrams of the mineral - the amount you'd get in a small banana. The shots are fat-free and contain only 45 calories. The fruit-flavored treats also contained Omega 3 ALA, Omega 6 and vitamin E.

The question we ask, is if a single shot provides the same amount in a single small banana, why not just eat the banana? Or have an apricot or a nectarine if you prefer. You'll get more potassium, plus a bigger dose of other nutrients as well as a dose of fiber with the fruit.

SuperShots are super convenient - that can't be argued. If you can justify or afford the price, you could gain a bit of a nutritional benefit, but our suggestion is to go for the fruit instead.

UPDATE

"...Unilever has discontinued the product and consumers are upset. - Associated Content Report

What is rather upsetting is that the collective opinion among nutritionists (including yours truly) is why the product was discontinued. It may have been pricey, but as time passed, people started reporting that this product was truly helping them lower their cholesterol levels. Many felt so strongly about it, they were happy to pay the price.

Thus, the prevailing opinion is that the FDA had a hand in the discontinuation of this Unilever product. You see, if it really did work as many began to claim, the prescription drug industry could lose money on all their statin drugs that are supposed to lower cholesterol. We concur that this theory is entirely within the realm of possibility.

2014 Update

We have only just recently learned that the organization who put out the memo that the Promise Activ SuperShots were "not on the good food list" did indeed receive funding from government sources and prescription drug manufacturers. We deeply regret not having known that back in 2008; however, it was a well kept "secret".

Disclosure: We have no affiliation with the manufacturer mentioned above.